Wire-crimping machine.



No. 687,753. Patentpd Dec. 3, mm.

F. W., A. [1. & E. A. HOEFER.

WIRE CRIMPING MACHlNE. (Application filed Aug. 3, 1901 (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheaik I.

THE norms PETERS co. PHOTOLIYNO. WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 687,753. Patented Dec. 3, l90l. F. W., A. G. &. E. A. HUEFER. WIREGBIMPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 3, 1901.)

(No Model. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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(Apglicatioq filed Aug. 3, 1901.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet '3.-

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. (Application filed Aug. 3, 1901.) I

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet .4.

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No. 687,753. Patented Dec. 3, MN.

F. W., A. G. 81. E. A. HUEFER. WIREGRIMPING MACHINE.

(Applicatipn filed Aug. 8, 1901.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

FREDERICK W. I-IOEFER, AUGUST G. HOEFER, AND EMIL A. HOEFER, OF

FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO HOEFER MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, OFFREEPOR'I, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WIRE-CRIMPING MACHINE.

SPEGIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,753, dated December3, 1901.

Application filed August 3, 1901. Serial No. 70,825. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FREDERICK W. I-IoE- FER, AUeUsr G. HOEFER, and EMILA. Hon- FER, citizens of the United States of America, residing atFreeport,in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in WVire- CrimpingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in wire-crimping machines whichare adapted to crimp wire for a variety of purposes, suitableinterchangeable dies beingprovided therefor;

and it consists of certain new and useful features of construction andcombinations of parts especially devised to that end, all as hereinafterfully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a wire-crimping machineembodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a like View of the same withsomeof the upper parts thereof removed and other parts in difierentpositions. Fig. 3 is also a like view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 withsome of said parts in still different positions. Fig. 4c is a rearelevation of the machine with the corresponding parts thereof in thesame positions as in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a right side elevation of thesame with the corresponding parts thereof also in the same positions asin Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is also a right side elevation of the same with thecorresponding parts thereof in positions different from those in Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a left side elevation of the same with the parts thereof inthe positions they assume Whenthe parts shown in Fig. 6 are in thepositions there shown. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are vertical sections at thedotted line 8 8 in Fig. 1 of parts there shown. Figs. 11 and 12 arevertical sections at the dotted line 11 11 in Fig.1 of parts thereshown. Fig. 13 shows a segment of wire having two sets of crirnpstherein of such forms and in such relative positions as the dies now inthe'machine would produce if operated.

4 Like letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts throughout theseveral views.

A is an approximately rectangular bed provided with legs A. Supported onthe bed A are means for intermittently feeding wire from a coil, meansfor regulating the feed so as to force forward a slightly-increasedamount of wire at predetermined times, means for crimping the wirevertically or horizontally, or both, if desired, at regular intervals,and means for severing the wire after being crimped, also at regularintervals.

B is the driving-shaft of the machine and is mounted in the bed Athereof and provided at one end with a driving-pulley 13 and at theother end with a crank-arm B B is a grip-carriage track having one endthereof secured into a supporting-socket B in the bed A and provided atits other end with a head B having mounted therein two parallel seriesof wire-straightening rolls E 13 is a bell-crank mounted by its angle Oon a pivot-bearing O on the bed A'.

C is a longitudinally-reciprocating pitman connecting a wrist-pin O,which is rendered adjustable lengthwise of the crank-arm B by means ofthe longitudinal slot C" therein and the adjusting-screw O, with thefree end of the arm O of the bell-crank O by means of a universal jointC D is a grip-carriage having a circular open= ing D therethrough, Figs.7 and 9, to admit the track 13 whereon it is slid. The gripcarriage D isprovided with a grip consisting of a stationary jaw D and agripping-finger D supported by a short rock-shaft D vertically mountedin such grip carriage D, which is normally impelled by means of thespiral actuating-spring D Fig. 7, to firmly press the point of suchfinger D against the jaw D The grip-carriage D is also yieldinglyconnected with the arm D of the bellcrank O by means of a link D jointedto such carriage D by means of-a pivot D and to such arm D by means of alongitudinal slot D therein and a pin D passing through such slot D intoa retaining-socket in such arm D. A tension-spring D also connects thegrip-carriage D with the free end of the arm D of the bell-crank O andnormally acts, when said grip-carriage is free to move backward, as inFig. 3, to force it to its outward limit of travel along the track B Eis a grip-carriage stop-lever having its end E bent into the path of thegrip-carriage D, Figs. 1, 2, and 7, and its end E provided with anupwardly-inclined tripping-cam E Fig. 7, and mounted at its centralportion on a pivot E on the base A.

E is a screw passing through a threaded opening in the bent portion E ofthe stoplever E and serving as an adjustable stop to regulate the amountof backward travel of the grip-carriage D when such stop-lever E is inthe position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7.

E is a nut for setting the screw E at any desired point in its bearing.

E is a tension-spring normally retaining the stop-lever E in theposition shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7 and against the stop-lug E on thebase A.

F is a shaft rotatably mounted in hearings in the lugs F on the base Aand has mounted fast to the end portions thereof wrist-wheels F F havingwrist-pins F F projecting outwardly therefrom. A friction device toprevent the too easy rotation of the shaft F and its wrist-wheels F F 8is formed, preferably, of a strip of metal F having a strip of leather Fmade fast thereto and the whole secured by means of a screw F to thebase A and rendered vertically adjustable by means of a screw F Fig. 7.

G G are slideways formed in the base A of the machine, wherein slides GG3 G, carrying crimping-dies G G G are horizontally reciprocated bymeans to be described hereinafter. The dies G G G7 may be secured totheir slides by means of screws inserted through the former into thelatter, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 11, or in any other desiredmanner.

H is a lever for operating the die-slide G to which it is connected bymeans of a pivot H and is mounted by one end H thereof on thepivot-bearing C on the base A.

I is a slide-bar pivoted by one end 1 to the end H of the lever H andsupported at its other end I by means of the driving-shaft B, passingthrough a longitudinal slot 1 therein. The slide-bar I is provided withtwo rollerstuds I I projecting therefrom into engagement with theperiphery of the cam 1 which is located between the roller-studs l 1 andis fast to the driving-shaft B.

J J are cams fast to the driving-shaft B, which, acting through theantifriction-rollers J J mounted in the slides G3 G force the dies G G7forward to horizontally crimp the wire passing through the machine.

J is a cam,.also fast to the driving-shaft B, which, acting through thecurved arm J fast to the slide G and the lug J on the slide G",withdraws the dies G G after each horizontal crimping operation.

K K are levers mounted at their central portions on the pivot-bearin g Kin the lugs F on the base A. In the rear ends of the levers K K aremounted antifriction-rollers K ,contacting cams K K fast to thedrivingshaft B, which actuate such levers K K.

L L are arms fast to and projecting vertically downward from the frontends of the levers K K. Dies L L Fig. 10, for pressing the wire downwardinto counterpart lower dies L L in the bed-piece L to vertically crimpthe same, are secured to the lower and free ends of such arms L L.

M M M Fig. 9, are three ratchet-wheels splined onto the shaft F, so asto rotate it and at the same time admit of being slid endwise thereon,if desired. No two of these ratchet wheels have the same number ofteeth, and either of them may be slid along its shaft F into action,according as it is desired that such shaft shall be rotated more or lessrapidly.

M" is a pawl mounted on the pivot M in the lug M on the arm J andnormally held into engagement with the ratchet-wheel M, which is hereshown as having twelve teeth M and in proper position to be engagedthereby by means of the actuating-spring M N is a stud-axlelongitudinally adjustable in a bearing N, wherein itis secured by meansof a set-screw N N is a rocking hub mounted to oscillate on thestud-axle N and provided with transversely-projecting arms N N N The armN carries a knife N", which cooperates with the lower knife Nlongitudinally adjustable in the base A, to sever the wire after it iscrimped. The arm N carries a transverse pin N, which serves as a stop tolimit the travel in one direction of the rocking hub N by coming incontact with the lug F, Figs. 1 and 5, where it is normally held bymeans of the tension-spring N which extends from the free end of sucharm N to a stud N fast to the base A. The arm N also carries a cam NFig. 5, against which the wrist-pin F on the wrist-wheel F acts todepress the arm N to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,whereupon the lug N on the slidebar I, Fig. 6, engages such arm N andtherethrough causes the knife N cooperating with the knife N, to severthe wire.

Suppose the driving-shaft B to be rotating and a wire 0, Figs. 1 and 9,to extend between the straightening-rolls B B thence between thestationary jaw D and spring-actuated gripping-finger D of thegrip-carriage D, thence through the guides P P P under the shield P andspring P and thence outward against the guide P, Fig. 1, and that thedies G2 G6 G L L have just formed one set of crimps therein and beenretired to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 11, thus releasing thewire O, whereupon the bell-crank C will have been swung by the crank-armB and pitman C from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shownin Fig.- 2, and the wire 0 will have been slid endwise through themachine by means of the grip-carriage D a corresponding distance. Thecam J, acting through the slide G next advances the die G to theposition shown in Fig. 2, thereby gripping the wire 0 between such die Gand the stationary jaw Q on the base A, and the cam K acting through thelever K, next depresses the cam L to the position shown in Fig. 10. Thecam I, acting through the parts I H G next advances the cam G5 to theposition shown in Fig. 3. The cam J, acting through the slide G nextadvances the die G to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the cam K actingthrough the lever K, next depresses the die L to the position shown inFig. 10, and a second set of crimps will have thus been completed. Thedies L L are next alternately elevated out of action by the weight ofthe rear portions of their levers K K, which descend from theiractuating-cams K K immediately after such dies have been alternatelydepressed by such levers to the positions shown in Fig. 10. During thetime that the dies L L were acting and being elevated out of action thebell-crank (1 was moving the grip-carriage D backward on its track Bfrom the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, the wire 0being firmly gripped between the ends of the dies G (5% G7 and the jawsQ Q and the spring D Fig. 7, permitting the gripping-finger D to yieldsufficiently to allow the latter and the stationary jaw D to slidebackward along such wire 0. Immediatelyafterthegrip-carriageD hadreached the position shown in Fig. 1 the cam I, acting through thesliding bar I and the lever H, and the cam J acting through the arm Jand lug J simultaneously retired the cams G G G from the position shownin Fig. 3to that shown in Fig. 1. Remembering that the ratchet-wheel Mhas twelve teeth M and assuming that each forward movement of the slideG acting through the pawl M, turns such ratchet-wheel M and itsshaft Fone-telfth of a revolution, and, further, assuming that the machine hascontinued to run. and continued its crimping operations until theratchet-wheel M is being turned the last twelfth of a revolution andthat the wristpin F Fig. 1, is engaging the trippingrcam E on the end Eof the grip-carriage stop-lever E and will swing it to the positionshown in Fig. 3 just before the grip-carriage D completes its twelfthbackward movement, then the latter, being thus left unrestrained by thestop-lever E, will travel farther backward than heretofore and to theposition shown in Fig. 3 and will consequently carry forward in its nextadvance movement an increased amountin length of wire, as 0. Just afterthe grip-carriage D has thrust forward such increased amount of wire 0and the dies have formed the twelfth set of crimps O in the wire 0 thewrist-pin F Fig. 5, on the wrist-wheel F will engage the cam N' on thearm N and turn the hub N and its arm N to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 5, when the lug N on the slide-bar I will engage the sameand turn such hub N until the knife N on the arm N cooperating with thestationary knife N severs the portion 0' of the wire 0, say at 0 Thisadditional length of wire 0 furnishes means of attach ing and securingthe ends of the crimpedwire O to any desired supports. The rocking hub Nand arm N, with its knife N and the knife N may be so adjustedlongitudinally in their bearings as to adapt them to bisect theincreased amount of wire 0 passed through the machine by thegrip-carriage D after each twelfth complete cycle of crimpingoperations, thereby insuring an equal amount of extra wire at each endof each segment of wire turned out by the machine.

With all the parts-of the machine arranged as hereinbefore shown anddescribed it will automatically form and out oif segments of wire havingtwelve sets of crimps O therein, which are designed to secure togetherthe ends of springs such as are used in spring-beds and the like; but bysubstituting ratchet-wheels having different numbers of teeth and diesof different forms and sizes for the ratchet-wheel M and the dies nowinthe machine obviously wire segments with corresponding variations may beturned out thereby.

We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In awire-crimping machine, in combination, a grip-carriage track, agrip-carriage D and its grip--the latter consisting of a stationary jawD and a spring-actuated gripping-finger D cooperating therewithe-adaptedto be impelled back and forth on said track,

and means for so impelling said grip-carriage and grip thereon,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination, a supporting-bed, agrip-carriage track projecting therefrom and supported thereby, agrip-carriage, adapted. to be slid back and forth on the track andprovided with a grip, consisting of a stationary jaw and aspringactuated gripping-finger cooperating therewith, a driving-shaftmounted in the machine-supporting bed, a crank-arm fast to thedriving-shaft, a bell-crank, mounted on such supporting-bed andconnected, throughone of its arms, with the grip-carriage, and a pitman,connecting the crank-arm with theremaining arm of the bell-crank,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination, a supporting-bed, agrip-carriage track supported thereby, a grip-carriage audits grip,mounted on. said track, a bell-crank mounted on the supporting-bed, ayielding connection -consisting of a slotted link and tension-spring-between the gripcarriage and one arm of the bell-crank, adriving-shaft mounted in the supporting-bed, a crank-arm fast to thedriving-shaft, a pitman connecting the crank-arm with the remaining armof the bell-crank, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a track, of a gripcarriage and its grip,mounted and adapted to be slid back and forth thereon, a bell-crank,yieldingly connected, by one of its arms, with the grip-carriage, agrip-carriage stoplever, normally supporting an adjustable stop in thepath of the grip-carriage, to limit its backward travel, adriving-shaft, a crank thereon, a pitman connecting said crank with theremaining arm of the bell-crank, and means for operatively supportingall of said parts, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a track, of a gripcarriage and its grip,mounted and adapted to be propelled back and forth thereon, a bellcrank,a yielding connection between one of the arms of the bell-crank and thegrip-carriage, a grip-carriage stop lever, normally supporting anadjustable stop in the path of the grip-carriage, to limit its backwardtravel, a driving-shaft, a crank-arm fast thereon, a pitman connectingthe crank-arm with the remaining arm of the bell-crank, means forswinging the grip-carriage stop-lever and its adjustable stop out of thepath of the gripcarriage, at predetermined intervals, and means foroperatively mounting and supporting all of saidinstrumentalities,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In awire-crimping machine, in combination, a track, a grip-carriageand its gripconsisting of a stationary jaw and a spring-actuatedgripping-finger- -mounted and adapted to be driven back and forththereon a bellorank, a yielding connection-*consisting of a slotted linkand springbetween the grip carriage and one arm of the bell-crank, agripcarriage stop-lever, having a tripping-cam thereon and normallysupporting an adjustable stop in the path of the grip-carriage, to limitits backward travel, a driving-shaft, a crank-arm thereon, a pitmanconnecting the crank-arm with the remaining arm of the bellcrank, ashaft, a wheel, fast thereto and provided with a wrist arranged toengage the tripping-cam, on the grip-carriage stop-lever, and swing thelatter out of the path of the grip-carriage, at predeterminedintervals,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination, a track, a grip-carriageand its grip-- consisting of a stationary jaw and a springactuatedgripping fingermounted and adapted to be driven back and forth thereon,a bell-crank, a yielding connection-consisting of a slotted link andtension-spring-between the grip-carriage and one arm of the bell-crank,a grip-carriage stop-lever, having a tripping-cam thereon and normallysupporting an adjustable stop in the path of the grip-carriage, to limitits backward travel, a

driving-shaft, a crank-arm thereon, a pitman connecting the crank-armwith the remaining arm of the bell-crank, a shaft, a wheel fast theretoand carrying a wrist adapted to engage the tripping-cam, on thegrip-carriage stop-lever, and swing the latter out of the path of thegrip-carriage, at predetermined intervals, a ratchet-wheel mounted onthe last-mentioned shaft, a pawl for driving said ratchet-wheel andshaft, and means for operating said pawl, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

8. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination, a supporting-bed havingslideways formed therein, slides adapted to be horizontally reciprocatedin the slideways, crimpingdies carried by said slides, a driving-shaft,cams-fast mounted on said shaft--for horizontally reciprocating saidslides and dies, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination,a supporting-bed, lowervertical crimping-dies supported thereby, horizontal levers K K mounted,at their central portions, on a horizontal pivot-bearing K arms L Lprojecting downward from the levers K K, upper vertical crimping-diesfast to the lower ends of the arms L L, a driving-shaft, cams K 1( fastthereon, antifriction-rollers K mounted in the rear ends of the levers KK and contacting the cams K K on the drivingshaft, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

10. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination, a supporting-bed, anon-rotatable stud-axle longitudinally adjustable in a bearing therein,a rocking hub mounted,to oscillate,on the stud'axle and provided withtransversely-projecting arms N N N, a knife N fast to the arm N, a knifeN longitudinally adjustable in the supporting-bed and adapted tocooperate with the knife N a slide-bar having a lug N thereon foroperatingvthe rocking hub and knife N on the arm N thereof'through thearm N -a drivingshaft, mounted in the supporting-bed, a cam I, on thedriving-shaft, for operating the slide-bar, and means for rocking saidhub to tilt the arm N into the path of the lug N on the slide-bar I, atpredetermined intervals, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a wire-crimping machine, in combination, a supporting-bed, anon-rotatable stud-axle longitudinally adjustable in a bearing therein,a rocking hub mounted, to oscillate,on the stud-axle and provided withtransversely-projecting arms N N N, a knife N fast to the arm N a knifeN longitudinally adjustable in the supporting-bed and adapted tocooperate with the knife N a slide-bar having a lug N thereon foroperating the rocking hub and knife N on the arm N thereof -through thearm N --a drivingshaft, mounted in the supporting-bed, a cam 1 on thedriving-shaft, for operating the names to this specification in thepresence of lo slide-bar, a shaft and a Wheel fast thereto twosubscribing Witnesses. carrying a wrist, adapted to engage the cam N onthe arm N and therethrough rook 5 said hub, to tilt the arm N into thepath of L A HEFER the lug N on the slide-bar I, at predeterminedintervals, substantially as and for the Vitnesses:

purpose specified. D. B. BREED,

In testimony whereof we have signed our W. P. PUTNAM.

